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Out in force in Yemen

Nov. 13 - Protesters fill the streets in Yemen as President Saleh clings to power, while officials say three French workers kidnapped in May face death threat. Deborah Lutterbeck reports

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Out in force in Yemen.
Thousands take to the streets of Sanaa as President Ali Abdullah Saleh appears to continues to cling to power.
Saleh has withstood nine months of protests against his rule and international pressure on him to quit. he has agreed to a Gulf-brokered power transition plan three times, only to back out of signing it at the last minute.
Mediators say they were close to clinching a deal with Saleh , but a senior member of the opposition said the veteran leader was stalling once again.
Demonstrators have had enough
SOUNDBITE: Protester Mohamed al-Jabri, saying(Arabic):
"Enough wavering with the people of Yemen. The Yemeni people took to streets and will not go back. Victory is near, and whoever gives Ali Abdullah Saleh a guarantee or immunity is a partner with him, and a criminal like him."
Also on Sunday, Yemen's deputy information minister ABDO AL-JANADI warned that French hostages in Yemen will need help from France
SOUNDBITE: Deputy Information Minister Abdo al-Janadi, saying(Arabic):
"Those who carried out the kidnapping were from al Qaeda and they are demanding a large ransom. Certainly, they are threatening to kill them."
Three French aid workers were in Southern Yemen in May.
SOUNDBITE: Deputy Information Minister Abdo al-Janadi, saying(Arabic):
"We ask our French friends to give us a helping hand and work with us to get the hostages released, particularly since it is a question of money, because today, the state's treasury is almost empty."
Kidnappings of Westerners have been frequent in Yemen, one of the poorest Arab countries. Most hostages have been freed unharmed.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters

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